Magdalen Road one-way system to be permanent

It will cost nearly £1 million

What was passed off as a temporary one-way layout of Exeter’s Magdalen Road is expected to be made permanent, and more of the road closed to traffic in one direction, at least on a trial basis.

Famed for its independent shops and restaurants, the neighbourhood centre of St Leonards became one-way in June 2020 to support social distancing and active travel (a term for cycling and walking).

It also became part of Exeter’s E9 cycle route, which connects the Newcourt/Pynes Hill area to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital and city centre along a number of roads.

Following a public consultation that found most respondents favoured reducing traffic, last year, Exeter’s highways and traffic orders committee (HATOC) voted to make the temporary arragements permanent.

It means only one-way motorised traffic will be allowed towards the city centre, while a contraflow cycle lane will be installed.

If the committee again signals its support at Monday’s HATOC meeting next Monday [6 June], Devon County Council’s ruling cabinet will be asked to sign off the proposals on Wednesday [8 June].

The scheme is expected to cost approximately £900,000, half a million pounds of which will come from the Department for Transport. Funds from the county council’s local transport plan will make up the rest.

Councillors are also being asked to agree to a trial extension of the one-way scheme once the permanent section along Magdalen Road has been built. The ‘experimental’ traffic order would extend it to the junction with Fairpark Road.

The move comes after complaints from residents of nearby Denmark Road, into which motorists travelling up Magdalen Road towards Heavitree (eastbound) currently have to turn. They argue the active travel measures have increased traffic onto their residential street.

A traffic survey included in a report to the HATOC backs this up. While the one-way system has reduced traffic by around 50 per cent along Magdalen Road, it has increased it by 20 per cent along Denmark Road.

The extension will prevent motorists from driving through Denmark Road when travelling from Western Way towards Heavitree Road, as many currently do.

Junction with Fairpark Road on Magdalen Road (Image: Google Maps)

Plans to alter the orientation of parking spaces along Magdalen Road – to enable people to drive in and reverse out – have been scrapped because of “safety concerns.”

The report says: “The highway code recommends that drivers should reverse into a parking bay and drive out, as this improves visibility. This is a particular concern when considering the increasing number of cyclists expected along the E9 route.”

Also proposed are improvements along Magdalen Road, a raised hump uncontrolled crossing point at the junction with Denmark Road, and three new loading bays to be incorporated into the widened footway.

The report, by Devon’s director of climate change, environment and transport Meg Booth adds: “The scheme is well-aligned with a range of actions within the strategic plan, insofar as it would prioritise walking and cycling over vehicular traffic, and therefore encourage more people to walk and cycle.

“By reducing traffic volumes on the E9 strategic cycle route and complementing existing measures on Wonford Road, Dryden Road and Ludwell Lane, it would likely make cycling a safe and attractive option for a wider range of people (including, for example, children).

“The scheme is also designed to improve the urban environment on Magdalen Road, making it a more attractive destination for shopping and dining, and providing additional space for community activities. It would therefore help support a green economic recovery from covid-19 for businesses on Magdalen Road.”

Ms Booth “acknowledged that some car journeys will be made longer by the proposals,” adding there “may be an increase in traffic on some adjacent roads.”

However, she concludes: “In view of the significant potential for modal shift from car to active travel, there is expected to be an overall benefit in relation to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Her report also states that it is “not considered feasible to progress an alternative permanent scheme at this stage, as this would require significant additional design work, delaying the delivery of the scheme and requiring the advertisement of alternative [traffic regulation orders].”